World Cup holders Italy and European champions Greece got back on track in Euro 2008 qualifying on Wednesday, but England laboured to beat Andorra and Sweden suffered an upset in Northern Ireland.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
The former Manchester United great was arrested for drunk driving.
British soccer legend George Best spent Christmas night in police custody being questioned about an alleged assault, British newspapers said.
Four-times winners Germany enjoyed a 3-0 win over Group J rivals Iceland
A 2-1 victory gave the India Under-18 team their first win in the in the Milk Cup qualifiers in Northern Ireland.
The Dutch envoy said to Tirumurti "You should not have abstained in the GA. Respect the UN Charter."
Germany beat the Faroe Islands 2-0 with two desperately late goals while Spain drew with N. Ireland in the Euro 2004 qualifiers.
They registered identical cards of two-under 70, that placed them tied 24th at the end of the first round of the British Masters.
World champions Germany and perennial also-rans Albania do not share much in common in football but both were united in joy on Sunday when they qualified for Euro 2016 in France along with Romania and Poland.
- 'I feel I came through this year stronger and wiser'
Three Indian pugilists, including Nikhat Zareen, advanced to the semi-finals in their respective events after thrilling victories while Lovlina Borgohain bowed out in the quarter-finals in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on Wednesday.
'The West has always opposed a strong nationalist leader in India and Narendra Modi is no exception.' 'The West prefers weak leaders who are amenable to Western pressure and Mr Modi's independent stance is not to the liking of the West,' asserts Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).
\n\nThey lost to Argentine giants River Plate 1-2 in the Milk Cup.
Celtic midfielder Neil Lennon is hopeful of signing a new contract early next year and see out his playing days with the Scottish champions.
World champions Germany have warned that there is more to their biggest Euro 2016 group rivals Poland than Bundesliga top scorer Robert Lewandowski.
They scored narrow victories over Ding Junhui and Mark Allen respectively in the semis of the World under-21 snooker championship.
A glimpse of the Game of Thrones' Touring Exhibition held in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Schuerrle hits treble for the world champs; Lewandowski helps Poland thrash Georgia
Hungary reach Euro finals with last-gasp 2-1 win over Iceland
India's boxers Nitu Ghanghas won the women's 48kg Commonwealth Games title before Amit Panghal stormed to the gold medal in the men's 51kg, in Birmingham, on Sunday.
In the lightweight (57-60kg) division, Jasmine will feature straight in the quarter-finals after getting a first round bye.
Rory McIlroy took a long time to decide he would represent Ireland at the 2016 Rio Olympics but the 27-year-old world number three could now miss golf's return to the Games after a 112-year absence because of concerns over the Zika virus.
Indian boxing legend M C Mary Kom, who claimed a gold medal on debut at the Commonwealth Games, will be India's flagbearer at the event's closing ceremony, in Gold Coast, on Sunday.
A former cop and Chelsea fan has reportedly apologised for his role in the racist incident on the Paris Metro but has denied being a racist.
Rory McIlroy will not defend his British Open title at St Andrews next week after announcing on Wednesday he did not want to risk further damage to the ankle ligaments he ruptured playing football last weekend.
Germany's Mario Goetze brushed off criticism of his lacklustre performances at Euro 2016 on Sunday and said players were used to being praised one day and knocked off their pedestal the next.
The men's team got the better of Northern Ireland and Trinidad and Tobago thrashing them both 3-0 while the women's team defeated Sri Lanka and Wales 3-0, 3-1 respectively.
Poland coach Adam Nawalka said he was never concerned about Germany scoring a breakthrough goal as his team held the world champions to a 0-0 draw in Euro 2016 Group C on Thursday.
Kissinger's approach of balance of power, secret diplomacy and moderating ideology are the need of the hour. That is the greatest tribute to an intellectual who had a major impact on the world in his lifetime, notes Colonel Anil A Athale.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth has sent a message to the England soccer manager to wish the team luck ahead of its most anticipated game since the 1966 World Cup final.
World No 1 Rory McIlroy has won the Golf Writers Trophy for the second time in three years after an impressive season saw him claim two major championships and play an influential role in Europe's Ryder Cup victory.
World champions Germany cruised to a comfortable 4-1 victory over Azerbaijan to stay on track for a spot in next year's World Cup in Russia, while England laboured to a 2-0 victory over Lithuania.
Germany's Thomas Mueller struck twice as the nervy world champions kicked off their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign with a 2-1 victory over Scotland on Sunday.
